The purpose of this manual is to help the trainers teach the
new recruits easier, as well as to see that all recruits get the same basic training. The
methods and lessons here have been proven to work. Our new recruits now get better faster,
and make our house much stronger for it. Most of these lessons where worked out before I
ever came to Battle Tech, however, as all good programs grow and change this one has too.
With recent changes made, it is my purpose to list them here and make a formal record of
the process of training cadets.

I would like to dedicate this manual to all of the trainers
that have contributed to it and given of their time and their game to teach.

Lft. Aahz ~*~ HHGD*XO-CMT*AFFS

Table of contents

Requirements

Teaching notes

Lesson one: Basic driving

Lesson two: Fading

Lesson three: Weapon stripping

Lesson four: Torso Twisting

Lesson Five: Advanced Views

Lesson six: Quiz- battle commands & formations

Graduation Test

Homework

Summary

1.) REQUIREMENTS

All new cadets are required to spend a minimum of two weeks in the academy. During this
time they will be required to complete six lessons and take the Academy Graduation Exam
(A.G.E.). There is no limit on the length of stay in the academy. And to a point the
cadets will benefit from a longer stay, as training never hurts anyone. It will be the
responsibility of the cadets to obtain these lessons and finish them. It is the
responsibility of the trainer to see that the lessons are completed properly and the
follow up e-mails sent.

2.) TEACHERS NOTES

The lessons out lined in this manual are proven to work. We have seen much improvement
in our recruits since implementing them. The true strength in any program though, is the
ability to change and adapt to better methods. Therefor it is not required of you to use
the same mechs and teach the same way as contained in this manual. I list the lessons as I
teach them and give you what I use as a guideline only. The purpose and objects of the
lesson must be taught, as is, however the methods are up to the teacher. All of these
lessons are meant for a cadet that has had some experience in the drops and are not meant
for the very first day. We have a file designed to help teach the very first drops and how
to drive, fight, and learn the controls.

After you have finished any lesson with a cadet immediately send an e-mail to the CO
& XO of the academy so that it can be recorded and placed on the Web site for
tracking. This is the easiest place to check to see what lessons the cadet has had, or
which ones he needs. The location of the site is: http://members.aol.com/bbqhhgd/index.html

3.) Lesson One: Basic Driving

Lesson one is probably the easiest lesson we have. We want to make sure the cadet can
drive a mech in battle. This seems to be a simple lesson at first but to properly cover
everything you must go over several things. Start with the F1 button and its purpose. Then
go over the basics including, stop, forward, reverse, and turning to each side. Basic
driving also includes flying. Go over the different flying techniques. Explain how to use
the jump jets. Cover jump, jump higher, jump forward, and hover. After the cadet has done
this a couple of times take him to a bunker and have him jump onto it from a run. Also
have him jump over it. Next take him to a mountain. Choose the mountain carefully so that
it is possible to jump in two or three jumps. Explain how the jump jets recharge. And let
him see how he has to wait between jumps. It is probably a good time to warn him about
getting stuck as well. These are important skills and I would recommend not passing the
cadet on his first day. Wait until this is a formal lesson counting towards graduation
from the academy.

4.) Lesson Two: Fading

One of our more important lessons, fading is a must have survival skill. The purpose of
this lesson is to teach the cadet that at times backing up is a much better tactic than
charging and dying. The object of this lesson is to get the cadet to start fading before
his weapons come into range. Have him start his fade at 800 meters. Use your radar to
verify this. Take your time with this lesson and use at least two different sets of mechs
preferably three. At the end of the lesson if the cadet is doing well and picking it up as
he should, start to point out the times when he should start to charge.

The following are the mech match-ups that I like to use in the order I use them. The
trainer is in the charging mech while the cadet is in the fader.

This is a lesson that can be a lot of fun. The purpose of this one is target practice.
The object is to have the recruit shoot first the arms, then the torsos, and last the
kill. Dont let them cheat the lesson by hitting the torso and taking the arm as
well. No TICS are allowed in this lesson. Work this one several times until you are
confident the recruit can shoot well enough to take each piece as he is supposed to. This
is best done with the trainer and the cadet in the same mech.

The mechs I use are as follows:

Whitworth 1s - I like this mech for this game because the weapons are all medium ranges
and each one is located in the piece they are trying to remove.

Spider 5v - The most common mech used for this. Its weapons are smaller but located in
the CT so they aren't lost as you fight.

The end of this is up to the instructor as to when he feels the cadet has sufficient
aim, however I usually tell the cadet he has to kill me to pass. This isn't true but does
put an element of challenge into it and an amount of excitement for the cadet if he
manages to do it.

Lesson Four: Torso Twisting

Lesson Five: Advanced views

Yes I put these two lessons together, as it is probably the easiest way to
do it, however it does limit your mech choices. This is probably the most important lesson
we teach, and as such takes a lot of time to do it right. The skill of twisting is tough
to learn but once mastered will help you survive much longer in the game. Start this
lesson in the middle of the arena without shooting. Twist for the cadet and show him the
difference between twisting and turning. Then observe him as he twists. After he does it
properly, move back out of range and start the lesson. Choose the mechs closely for this
lesson. I highly recommend using the Crusader 4d. This is a mech in which you either twist
or you die. It also fires well from each side allowing you to combine the advanced views.
Watch the cadet closely during battles, make sure that he twists and shoots from the side
views as well. You may need to explain sticky view and its purpose if the cadet is unaware
of it. Also watch the cadet for over twisting, or exposing his backside. Teach him to use
the side view and its crosshairs to prevent over twist. At some point in the lesson there
is a good chance that you will have hit his gyro, when this happens stop the lesson and
explain the page up and page down buttons, the views they give, and how to shoot when
gyroed. Take time with this lesson and give it the proper perspective. Make sure the cadet
is aware of and can do all aspects of twisting and advanced views.

Lesson Six: Battle Commands

Lesson six is basically a quiz, best given by the trainer typing the
abbreviated command and having the cadet type its meaning.

The following commands will be used:

<S> = salute

H = Heading

S = Speed

M = Mark

OMM = On my mark

RGR = Roger

C = Charge

COC = Charge on contact

F = Fade

FOC = Fade on contact

F800 = Fade at 800 meters

T = Target

TL = Target lead

FL = Flank Left

FR = Flank Right

ST = Stay tight

Next go over the formations. Type the formation name and have the cadet explain how
each mech should be positioned. The following formations will be used:

Line Abreast

Box

Diamond

Line Astern

Wedge

V Formation

Graduation Test:

This is it! The cadet has passed all of the required lessons and is ready to
leave the academy. The trainer that signed the cadet off for his last lesson is
responsible for sending the cadet the A.G.E. You should send it to him along with a note
telling him that all of the answers come from material readily available from the HH
manual, the HH Web site and its links, or from the BTROC on his hard drive. A lot of
cadets are unaware of the BTROC and where they are located.

We have had some cadets ask for help with the test. Do not give them any answers but
you may tell them the specific location of each answer. Also make sure that it is there
before you send the cadet there. Yes this is almost the same as giving him the answers but
the cadet will benefit more if he learns where things are and how to find his own answers.

Once the cadet has finished the test, have him return it to you for checking. The
trainer should then go over the test, score it for number wrong, make a list of all of the
wrong answers, send the correct answers to the cadet so that he will know them in the
future, and then forward the test along with a final score. Forward it to the CO & XO
of the academy for approval. The cadet will be promoted out of the academy as a private as
soon as approval is received from command.

Home Work

.

Once the private has been graduated, the CO's of each company will be notified.
Instruct the cadet to interview with each one of them for placement in a lance. This
should be done within two weeks time. After you have done this, explain the purpose of the
home work sheet and send it to the cadet with the instructions to finish it and send it to
his new LL. This is the end of the academy's involvement with the cadet. But remember it
is your responsibility to continue working with him and to see that he continues to
improve. This is the job you agreed to when you first put on the T.

Summary

As I said earlier the most important thing about this program is its ability to grow.
We must continue to allow it to evolve and grow. We have seen great improvement in our
cadets but I believe we can see even more yet. The cadets look up too us and we must
remember how far a little praise can go. Keep an eye out for discouraged cadets and help
them through the academy. Build the cadets and give them praise, our house will be much
stronger for it.